Chapter 1: The Resignation
It was the absolute worst day of her life. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could he do that to her? How could they let him do that to her? Set aside the fact that she was unemployed. Heck, she probably had enough saved up to last at least six months, maybe even a whole year if she tightened her belt enough. That was the least of her concerns. Her biggest worry was that she could no longer be around him.
She loved him, adored him, and maybe even worshipped him. He was her reason to wake up in the morning, the best thing about going to work in that lab. But now she'll never see him again. He was like oxygen to her. How was she going to live without him? She wanted to jump up and scream for him not to resign, but she just sat there like a dumb little lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"Are you certain you want to do this, Doctor Felger?" asked General O'Nell as he took the resignation letter.
"Yes, General, I am certain."
"You worked very hard for this position. It's a shame that you are giving it up so quickly."
"I belong in the academic world, sir."
"All right, Doctor Felger," said General O'Nell as he shook his hand. "Your resignation is effective at noon, tomorrow. Thank you for all your service, and I, on behalf of all the crew, I wish you the best of luck."
As Cloe follows Jay out of the room, General O'Nell calls her back.
"Doctor Weston, you are a pretty good scientist in your own right. If you want Doctor Felger's old job, it's yours."
"That's a very generous offer, sir. But I think my road is also leading me somewhere else."
"All right. Let me know if you change your mind."
"I will if I do."
Like she would. Staying on the base would just be too painful. His memory would be on every key of every computer she touched. It would be in every test tub and every bottle of chemicals. The thought of his working in different lab with a bunch of yippy grad students just made her sick.